The following are highlights of the numerous bills in Congress that could impact dog owners and the wellbeing of dogs.
Visit our 2025 Legislation Tracking map and click on “Federal Bills” on the map to get the latest updates on federal bills currently being monitored by the AKC. Highlights of issues we are currently addressing on the federal level include:
Federal/ Regulatory – The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) rule that changed requirements for the importation of dogs into the U.S. went into effect on August 1, 2024. While we have expressed strong support of the regulation’s goal of protecting public health and canine welfare, we have continued to express disappointment that previous exceptions available for dogs that present low risk profiles, such as the import of fully vaccinated, personally-owned pets, service dogs, and dogs from DMRVV-free or low-risk countries, were eliminated. Due to the ongoing concerns of both members of the U.S. House and Senate, and members of the public, CDC announced in mid-December that it will propose revisions and certifications to the requirements for the importation of dogs. A new CDC proposal is expected in the first half of 2025. Click here for more information.